Frankie & Bug by Gayle Forman

Gayle Forman’s first-ever middle grade novel is a bittersweet coming-of-age story about two young friends set in 1987 Venice, California. When ten-year-old Bug meets her neighbor’s nephew, Frankie, she’s less than thrilled about spending the summer with someone new. However, the two soon grow closer as they gain understanding about each other and the world around them. Frankie & Bug is a poignant tale about friendship, allyship, and the power of found family.


“Joyful, occasionally heartbreaking, deeply moving.” —R. J. Palacio, bestselling author of Wonder

In the debut middle grade novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Gayle Forman comes a poignant and powerful coming-of-age story that follows a young girl and her new friend as they learn about family, friendship, allyship, and finding your way in a complicated world.

It’s the summer of 1987, and all ten-year-old Bug wants to do is go to the beach with her older brother and hang out with the locals on the boardwalk. But Danny wants to be with his own friends, and Bug’s mom is too busy, so Bug is stuck with their neighbor Philip’s nephew, Frankie.

Bug’s not too excited about hanging out with a kid she’s never met, but they soon find some common ground. And as the summer unfolds, they find themselves learning some important lessons about each other, and the world.

Like what it means to be your true self and how to be a good ally for others. That family can be the people you’re related to, but also the people you choose to have around you. And that even though life isn’t always fair, we can all do our part to make it more just.